Graining tool



June 19, 1956 E. R. GLEN ET AL 2,750,699

GRAINING TOOL Filed June 8, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

ENOCH R.G| r-:N BRUCE E.GL EN V ATTORNE United States Patent O GRAINING TOOL Enoch R. Glen and Bruce E. Glen, Carmel, Calif.

Application June 8, 1953, Serial No. 360,016

1 Claim. (Cl. 415.5)

The present invention relates to improvements in a graining tool. It has particular reference to that classification of tools, which are adapted to be utilized in producing grain structures representing various forms of wood surfaces.

Heretofore, it has been a common practice to provide a graining tool, which may be moved across a surface to be grained with a combined rocking and dragging or sliding action, forming a grained structure to impart natural effect of wood.

As the cardinal object of this invention, it is proposed to provide a graining tool, which is particularly well adapted for producing grain effects on round surfaces, such as table legs; reaching into corners, for example in furniture; forming representations of knots on the surface being treated; and otherwise intended to reproduce natural wood grain effects; all with rapidity and ease.

The surface to be given a graining effect is first painted and then the tool is moved thereover to produce the desired natural wood lines. The tool surface is kept as dry as possible during its use. It is also possible to use the tool on ceramic surfaces as well as wood. Other materials could have the graining effect applied to their surfaces, such as sheet rock and wall board.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. the claim hereunto appended.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of our graining tool;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the same tool;

Figures 4 and 5 are end elevational views looking at the left and right ends, respectively, of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view disclosing a typical rib projecting from a graining surface of the tool.

While we have shown only the preferred embodiment of our invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claim without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring now to the drawing, we provide a resilient body indicated generally at A, which may be moulded from rubber, or other suitable material, and of a size that may be readily grasped and held in a persons hand. For this reason, depressions 10-10 have been fashioned in opposing sides 11-11 of the body so as to receive the finger and thumb tips of the individual.

As clearly shown in Figure 2, the bottom 12 of the body A is curved between the opposite ends 14--14 of the latter to define a convexed rocker-like graining surface B from which ribs 15 project (see Figures 3 and 6). The graining on the tool, which are defined by the ribs The novel features will be set forth in "ice 15, may be photographed from an actual piece of selected wood, thereby reproducing the natural grain on the tool.

In using the surface B of the tool, the surface 16 to be grained is first painted and then the tool is gripped by the hand and the surface B thereof is rocked and dragged across the painted surface. This will give the desired natural effect to the treated material (see Figure 6). The reason for the resilient graining ribs 15 being raised is to cause the impressions to vary, according to the pressure applied to the tool, as it is drawn and rocked down the material to be grained. The ridges 15 and surface B when picking up too much paint from the surface, can be wiped clean from time to time.

In Figures 1 and 2, there are disclosed upper graining surfaces C and D, which are adapted to be used on table legs, or other round objects, such as 17 and 18, respectively. Both of these graining surfaces define compound curves that are coneaved and convexed longitudinally and transversely, respectively, relative to the body A. Ribs 19 project from the surface C, while ribs 20 are formed on the surface D.

The transversely extending convex portions of the surfaces C and D, permit either one to be applied to a curved surface of a round object 17 or 18 and to be gradually rocked and dragged along the surface to create the desired graining effect in much the same manner as the convex surface B is rocked and dragged over a fiat surface.

It will be noted that the left-hand portion B1 of the bottom graining surface and the upper graining surface C, when looking at Figure 2, form an acute angle therebetween, and merge into each other to define a wedge like E. The latter is adapted to be inserted into a corner, fit up against moulding, or the like, when graining material. Likewise, the right-hand portion B2 of the graining surface B is arranged at an acute angle with respect to the upper graining surface D, with the body providing a rocker F between these surfaces. This rocker surface F is convexed vertically and horizontally (see Figures 1-3 and 5), and has graining ribs 22 thereon. Obviously, the rocker may be used in rather restricted places, such as grooves in mouldings.

In order to enable the user to produce natural-appearing knots on material 23 being treated (see Figure 5), either before or after the graining, there is provided a raised section G on the top of the tool. This section has an unobstructed top surface having graining ribs 24 thereon, which represent a natural knot, see Figure 1. This surface G may be pressed against a painted surface to leave an impression of a knot. In order that all of the knots made with the surface G, will not appear identical, the tool may be moved slightly or twisted to cause the surface G to make knots of differing shapes and sizes.

Of course, all of the ribs 15, 19, 20, 22 and 24 are resilient to thereby cause impressions to vary in accordance with pressure exerted thereon by an individual using the tool. The entire body A may be made of resilient material, such as rubber, thus allowing it to be distorted to compensate for uneven surfaces of materials being grained, or to fit into restricted areas.

After the graining on the surface has been accomplished with the tool, it is possible to use a broad knife on the surface to produce the usual knifing effect. The left-hand edge E of the tool shown in Figure 1, could be used for the knifing effect in lieu of the broad knife, if desired. In the description, We have referred to the word paint as being applied to the surface, after which the graining effect is produced by the tool. We wish to use the Word paint in a generic sense so that it will include stain or any other colored liquid that can be applied to a surface for coloring it.

We claim:

In a graining tool: a semi-resilient body having a rectangular convex surface; thebody having opposing sides that substantially parallel each other and extend at right. angles to the convex surface; the sides being arranged close enough together and being of a size to permit the thumb to cont-act with onev side'and thefingers citzlre-serme hand to Contact with the. other side andthe convex surface facing: outwardly; the convex surface having elongated loops thereon formed. by raised ribs integral with the surface and having other raised ribs. that extend in the general direction of the length of the reactangular surface and are in the form of a wavy line from end to end thereof; the elongated loops having their major axes extending in the direction of the length of the rectangular surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

